21-year old SG/SF Gordon Hayward looked overwhelmed early this year but he finished strongly enough that he might enter the 2011-12 season as the Jazz’ starting shooting guard.  Hayward played in 72 games (17 starts) for the Jazz last year and he averaged 16.9 minutes, 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.  He shot pretty well from everywhere on the court as he hit 48.5% from the floor, 47.3% from three point range and 71.1% from the free throw line last year.  I expect that his free throw shooting will improve in 2011-12.  19-year old power forward Derrick Favors came over in the Deron Williams deal with the Nets.  He played in 22 games (4 starts) for the Jazz last year and he averaged 20.2 minutes, 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  Favors played in 78 games (27 starts) overall for the Nets & Jazz and he averaged 19.7 minutes, 6.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Most of his shots come from close range as he nailed 51.7% from the floor, but he will need to work on his free throw shooting as 59.5% just isn’t going to cut it.  Favors will back up Paul Millsap for the time being, but he might push him for his starting gig down the road.  23-year old small forward Jeremy Evans is a pretty good offensive player.  He shot a stunning 66.1% from the floor (76 of 115) last year.  He played in 49 games (3 starts) for the Jazz last year and he averaged 9.4 minutes, 3.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  I look for him to get more P.T. in 2011-12.

The Jazz shot 50.6% from the floor and it was the big reason for the win last night.  Gordon Hayward led the way for the Jazz last night with 34 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal.  He shot 12 of 17 from the floor, 5 of 6 from three point range and he was 5 of 5 from the free throw line as he was on fire last night!  Devin Harris (21 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal) and Al Jefferson (17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot) also had solid games for the Jazz last night.  Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors pitched in with 12 points apiece.  The Jazz finished the 2010-11 regular season with a 39-43 record.

The Jazz shot 55.2% from the floor last night and it was a big reason for the nice road win.  C.J. Miles (18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal) and Devin Harris (18 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists) led the way for the Jazz last night.  Paul Millsap also had a solid game with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot also pitched in for the Jazz last night.  Gordon Hayward also pitched in with 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.  The Jazz are now 38-43 on the year.

The Utah Jazz have decided to let 25-year old guard Kyle Weaver’s 10-day contract expire instead of re-signing him for the last two games of the year.  Weaver played in 5 games (0 starts) for the Jazz this year and he averaged 13.8 minutes, 5.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  But, Weaver only shot 36% (9 of 25) from the floor for the Jazz and that was just not good enough to get the job done.  The Jazz won’t miss him the last two games.

The Jazz didn’t play any D last night and it cost them dearly as the Spurs shot 57.7% from the floor!  Al Jefferson led the way for the Jazz last night with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.  Derrick Favors (17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 asssits, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot in 29 minutes) and Paul Millsap (16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in 23 minutes) also pitched in with decent games.  Devin Harris only shot 3 of 11 from the floor but he still finished up with 13 points, 1 rebound, 9 assists and 3 steals last night.  The Jazz are now 37-43 on the season.

The Jazz just couldn’t muster enough offense up last night to beat the Blazers.  Devin Harris led the way for the Jazz last night with 26 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 blocked shot.  Paul Millsap (19 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals) and Al Jefferson (10 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocked shots) also pitched in for the Jazz last night.  Gordon Hayward only shot 1 of 5 from the floor but he still finished with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.  The Jazz are now 37-42 on the year.

24-year old center Kyrylo Fesenko is done for the season due to a fractured right hand.  Fesenko played in 53 games (1 start) for the Jazz this season and he averaged 8.6 minutes, 2.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 132 games (7 starts) in his first four years with the Jazz and he has averaged 8.3 minutes, 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  I think that Fesenko has played his last game for the Jazz as he can become a free agent at the end of the year.

26-year old center Al Jefferson is having a very solid year for the Jazz.  He has played in 78 games (all starts) for the Jazz so far this year and he is averaging 36.0 minutes, 18.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game.  But so far in April, it’s been rough sledding for him.  He is only shooting 32.7% from the floor (16 of 49) so far in April but he’s still averaging 35.0 minutes, 13.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.3 blocked shots per game.  It’s hard to pick on Jefferson as he’s one of the few guys who gives the Jazz a solid every almost every night.

The Jazz really turned up the D as they held the Lakers to 37.8% shooting from the floor last night and it was the biggest reasons for the win.  Paul Millsap (22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots) and Gordon Hayward (22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot) led the way for the Jazz in this game.  Derrick Favors also had a very solid game with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots.  Al Jefferson (11 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocked shots) and Earl Watson (11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals) also pitched in for the Jazz in this game.  The Jazz are now 37-41 on the year.

The Jazz were outrebounded 39-33 last night and they didn’t play much D as the Kings shot 51.9% from the floor which did them in.  Paul Millsap (21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals), Gordon Hayward (19 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists) and Kyle Weaver (19 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots) led the way for the Jazz last night.  Al Jefferson only shot 4 of 13 from the floor but he still finished up with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.  The Jazz are now 36-41 on the year.